I've often wondered how stars of cooking shows stay slim. Well, how many of them stay slim, anyway -- Emeril not included. Most don't exactly cook the most low-cal meals, and I can't imaging that, after doing all the cooking, they don't indulge. But, if I indulged in those dishes every day, well ... let's just say I probably wouldn't be too qualified to write for this site!

As the host for Top Chef, Padma Lakshmi does just what I think most of us would do -- she puts on a few pounds. "I shoot for six weeks and gain 10 to 15 pounds. I spend the next month trying to get my health back."

Lakshmi knows just what to do to make that happen -- she lifts weights, walks a steep incline, takes spin classes and boxes three times a week. Still, this yo-yo dieting can't be good for her health, and I can't imagine the cycle is all that great on her emotional state, either. Who wants to have to drop 10 pounds or more every two or three months?